Seems to have elements of 256, 257 and 258: 256 width; 257 leather reinforcements at the attachments points, and the 258 large front zipped pockets.

If there was a 30% for Steve Alan rather than Gilt - I might be tempted.

I think they put the wrong pictures for the red label briefcase. The pictures look like the Navy 258. See the second picture. The width cannot be just 4 inches wide. Also I didn't see any "Red label" on the bag.

I was looking at the description of the new Meridian duffle. I haven't examined one in person but it seems to address issues expressed on this thread with other travel bags:
- aspect ratio means it doesn't get as wide when fully packed like a medium travel bag or sportsman. From my personal experience, I can attest that relatively taller bags trump relatively wider bags for carrying any distance.
- has an external pocket and reinforced base unlike the regular small duffle. Plus a bit larger.
- has brass feet to keep the bottom off the ground which no other previous bag had.
- has a zipper that wraps around the side so not too narrow an opening.
- is lined unlike any of the twill travel bags.
- trolley strap so can be put on the handle of a rolling piece.

As a carry-on or weekender type bag, the only downside I can see is really just the price. For hauling gear in the back of the truck or as a checked bag for a flight then these extra features are probably not worth the extra $.

anyone owns a Filson Medium Duffle ? I am planning on using it as my gym/work bag. Basically carry it to work (i wear business formal) with all my gym gear, shoe bag and stuff inside. I feel the material and look of the duffle is able to go well with business wear. However i am concerned that the size might be too big/small for me.

would anyone have any experience in that aspect? am looking at the Navy duffle. Oh yeah i own a 256 in Tan, solid briefcase.

I've been looking at purchasing a new backpack, and i've looked at all sorts of brands like Herschel Select, Sandqvist, Topo Designs and FIlson. I narrowed it down to a few but after getting my 257 briefcase I decided that there isn't a single bag i've seen or owned with the same quality as Filson and I decided to go for a Filson backpack!

Just wanted some opinions between these two. From what I understand the Green version is the Mr Porter edition (and was only released in limited quantites for awhile), and the Tan version (with Soy Waxed cloth) i'm unsure which model exactly it is, and if it was a limited edition or not.

I would greatly appreciate any input or feedback on this issue :D I'm 99% going to get either one of these bags for my upcoming trip.

anyone owns a Filson Medium Duffle ? I am planning on using it as my gym/work bag. Basically carry it to work (i wear business formal) with all my gym gear, shoe bag and stuff inside. I feel the material and look of the duffle is able to go well with business wear. However i am concerned that the size might be too big/small for me.

would anyone have any experience in that aspect? am looking at the Navy duffle. Oh yeah i own a 256 in Tan, solid briefcase.

In my opinion you might find it a little large for that use, it's pretty big.

anyone owns a Filson Medium Duffle ? I am planning on using it as my gym/work bag. Basically carry it to work (i wear business formal) with all my gym gear, shoe bag and stuff inside. I feel the material and look of the duffle is able to go well with business wear. However i am concerned that the size might be too big/small for me.
would anyone have any experience in that aspect? am looking at the Navy duffle. Oh yeah i own a 256 in Tan, solid briefcase.

I just used a medium duffle along with a garment bag on a 2.5 week business trip, so I think it is a huge bag to carry daily! A few months back, I posted a pic of how much a medium duffle can hold. Sure, like any big bag, you could severely underfill so it is nearly flat - and it will carry your gear but that defeats the purpose.

This sounds like a better job for a Sportsman or a small duffle.Edited by Soletrane - 10/20/15 at 3:24pm

I've been looking at purchasing a new backpack, and i've looked at all sorts of brands like Herschel Select, Sandqvist, Topo Designs and FIlson. I narrowed it down to a few but after getting my 257 briefcase I decided that there isn't a single bag i've seen or owned with the same quality as Filson and I decided to go for a Filson backpack!

Just wanted some opinions between these two. From what I understand the Green version is the Mr Porter edition (and was only released in limited quantites for awhile), and the Tan version (with Soy Waxed cloth) i'm unsure which model exactly it is, and if it was a limited edition or not.

I would greatly appreciate any input or feedback on this issue :D I'm 99% going to get either one of these bags for my upcoming trip.

Anyone have any insights into this? I have now confirmed that the Otter Green is the Mr Porter version but still unsure about the Tan version.

I'm also unsure about how the Soy Waxed finish will hold up, and if the dimensions of the two bags are the same.

The Tan version Filson called the Roll Top backpack. I buy Filson for the quality of materials and the durability of its products, rather than fashion. Given the two options, I would definitely choose the Mr. Porter version made of the original 22oz rugged twill rather than some new, thin 8.5oz cloth with a hippie soy-based wax coating. But that's just me!

Thanks for the reply! Do you know if they were both made in limited productions? Which is 'technically' more rare or more difficult to find? Or which was produced for a shorter period or in more limited numbers.

I am sitting right in the middle of the fence for these two bags.

1. The otter green has the classic rugged twill that will hide dirt better and is also a more rugged material used for majority of the bag. The otter green version is also darker, and more classy looking and I can see it being used in more formal settings.

2. On the other hand, however, the tan roll top backpack is very rugged looking, and looks great for outdoors stuff, but it also has the soywax material (which i'm not if it will darken/lighten over time and/or pick up dirt easier than rugged twill or even tin cloth) If Filson had this as a production model, do you know why they no longer sell it on their official site?

I'm looking for a backpack that I will use everyday and I'm more of a casual dresser. I currently use a Jansport Pleasanton as a daily backpack and before that a Herschel Little America and Fjallraven backpack.

I can't speak for the durability of the soy cotton, but it weighs just over a third of what the twill cloth weighs, and darker colors always seem to hide dirt better than light colors.

Filson seems to be in a new habit of releasing new gear and selling it for a quarter to half a year - that seems to be the case with all of its soy-wax goods. Only one jacket remains on the Filson website.

The Mr. Porter version, I would guess, would be the more rare bag since it was made for one particular outlet, rather than all of Filson's catalog of vendors.